Overview
Here's what it will look like when the Sydney Light Rail finally launches into action in 2019. The brand new trams, dubbed the Citadis x05, are the world's longest light rail vehicles to date and we're the very first city to nab 'em.
Built in France and Spain by Alstom, the trams ring in at 67 metres and can carry 450 passengers, which is nine times the capacity of a bus. The new schmick design was unveiled in Randwick on Tuesday, August 1 by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure.
"It is a really exciting day to be standing here with the first of our world-class light rail vehicles and offering the people of NSW a glimpse of this innovative, modern vehicle," said Premier Berejiklian.
Despite its behemoth size, the Citadis x05 is pretty efficient. Compared with your average bus, it uses four times less energy, as well as ten times less energy than a car. It's also very, very wheel-friendly — think loads of room for prams and wheelchairs, double doors, low floors and easy-to-reach intercoms.
All in all, there will be 30 tram sets operating in the CBD and South East Light Rail, which will run from Circular Quay and the CBD through Surry Hills, Moore Park and Kensington, ending in Randwick and Kingsford. You can expect to see the Citadis x05 getting some test runs around town later this year.
Sure, from the outside the tram basically looks like every other modern light rail vehicle we've seen. But, even though Sydney is still obviously behind Melbourne on the tram scene —and, let's be honest, in a lot of ways — we can finally firmly lay claim to having the best of something other than beaches. Which are amazing and unbeatable.